I will either be buying the 700r or the yfz in the near future. I would like to know will the raptor easily keep up with the yfz in every day trail riding. If i put a pipe on the 700r would it easily have more performance than a piped yfz. What do you think. What would be your bike of choice. This will not be used for track racing just shredding trails and sand pits. What are the downfalls and quality's of both quads. All in all what is the better pick?

 

i think the raptor will be better suited for you sence you dont do any track riding. i like the efi that the raptor use. neather one of these quad really has a "downfall" as far a a piped raptor vs a piped yfz450 i think it is very very close. when you will start to see the raptor pull away from the yfz is when you start doing inturnal mods.

 

From what I know, the only downfall of the 450 is the hard seat. The only downfall of the 700 is it's height and tallness factor. It feels a little more tippy in the turns than the 450. Both are fast machines and very close in speed. If you put a pipe on a 700, you will still have about the same performance of a piped 450. I personally like the 700 and would recommend it for trail riding, and the reverse will be a plus in tight situations.

 

I say 700. All you need is wheel spacers to get rid of the top heavy feel. My buddy has a 450 with the 3 mods, and he can't beat my stock Raptor. The reverse is great to have and the fuel injection is awesome. No worries where ever you take it. The 450 is smaller and more made for jumping or track racing.

 

each bike has different personality, 450 is a mx bike 700 is a race immitator made for trails not track. both are equally fast. I don't know what mods the last guy was talking about, but I doubt a stock 700 could beat a modified 450. if it helps, yamaha puts the 700 motor in a 4x4 utility quad, and the 450 in a dirtbike. if you weigh over 180 I would go with the 700 it has more raw power, but 450 is pretty wicked though not as practical.

 

I have an 08 Raptor and my brother has an 08 YFZ. When we race down the road it's so close you better not blink. I like having EFI and reverse, but I suppose I could live without. The Raptor is good in corners but the YFZ is better, so we swapped tires for a short time and I am going to be getting Holeshots for my Raptor; the tires made a significant improvement. I kinda describe the YFZ as high strung like a 2-stroke and the Raptor as a torque monster. You have to make sure that your in a low enough gear on the YFZ more than you do on the Raptor when you come to a slow down.

I like the YFZ because it has a ton of manageable power, where sometimes I think that the Raptor may have too much *****(believe it or not) when comming out of a corner and lifting the tires. I am sure from that aspect, I could use more seat time. My last Rappy was an 04 and sucked compared to my 08.

As far as mods go, I think that the Raptor may come out on top slightly with the mods even up on both machines. That's just an educated guess based on what I have seen.

For trail riding and in the sand I would recommend the Raptor first. They are both great machines and I know that you would not be disappointed with either one. The YFZ is definately better in the corners. Both will do wheelies easily and are great. I like the fact that the Raptor has EFI and reverse, it was a selling point to me.

 

The 3 mods are intake, exhaust, and power commander/ carb kit. I found people on this forum calling it that, thats where I got it from. I had to ask what they meant! My buddy with that done to his 450 stays almost peg to peg with my stock Raptor. I do agree with Rappy08, it is a little hard out of corners because of the torque!

 

the 08 raptors and the 450 have new suspaension for 08 and are exactly the same. the only thing that helps the 450 is its total wight and the distribution, little lower to the ground. the best thing about the raptor is the fuel injection. you can produce best fuel to air ratio off showroom floor, 450 you have to tinker with and jet. I would like to go side by side with a new raptor. i have a pipe, filter and jetted carb, settings are perfect. these mods are pretty much neccessary for the yfz to perform. the stock motor with 155 main, non adjustable needle, and boat anchor for muffler are VERY restrictive, only there to pass emissions. reverse would be nice but if you come from riding dirtbikes you just learn not to drive yourself into a corner. if you do just walk it back out. stock v stock a raptor SHOULD win due to the restrictions just mentioned, all parts equal, it will depend on the riders weight and skill. get on you tube to check out some of the races they have on there, 450 wins most, but no telling what mods are in each quad.

 

Alot of people say the 700r is the better trail bike because of its monster torque. If you ask me the yfz450 is the way to go. Handles better, better suspension unless you get a SE 700r and they have the same front end. I dont like how the raptor stands and comes out of fast corners and wheel spacers make more bumpsteer than a set of extended A-Arms. To me the Raptor is kinda boring its all torque while the 450 has power everywhere. Im a 2 stroke guy so I appricate the lowend midrange and topend the 450 has. Its more fun to ride plus after riding it for a year you will know the bike and keep getting faster and faster comming out of fast corners and whoops sections plus it flys better.